Metal container and method for making the same



July 2, 1935. W'E ER 2,006,973

METAL CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME I Filed March 9, 1931 IN VEN TOR jozn E WrJer v ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE. T

METAL CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR v MAKING THE SAME John F. Werder, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Edmund Rogers, South Euclid,

Ohio Application March 9, 1931, Serial No. 521,228

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of metal container and also the method for making the same.

Although the present container is intended for any use of which it is capable, yet it is especially adapted for the packaging of a fluid, either gas or liquid, under substantial pressure and for the discharge of the same therefrom by such pressure. This form of container is especially useful in the packaging of gas-charged lubricants for automobiles.

This application is a companion of my copending, application Serial No. 521,227, filed March 9, 1931.

As explained in the co-pending application just referred to, it-has been the usual practice in the packaging of fluids underpressure to give to .the' body and heads of the containers so far as possible the particular curvature into which they would naturally be formed by the radial force of' the internal pressure which is equal in all directions and which therefore would naturally tend toward the form of a sphere. In the procedure referred to, however, some difficulty has been experienced in connection with the longitudinal joint of the container which has been found to break under the internal pressure and to result in leaks through the joint. This old' practice and the objectionable features incident thereto are fully set forth in the abovementioned application in which'there is disclosed the method and apparatus for constructing a cylindrical -or conical form of container with an overlapping longitudinal joint which obviates the breaking of the joint and also the necessity of re-soldering, the same before filling of the container with the gas-charged liquid.

As explained also in my United States Patent Ser. No. 1,762,903, of June 10, 1930, there has been devised by the present applicant, the method of first subjecting the completed or partially. completed form of container to an internal pressure corresponding substantially at least to that of the gas-charged liquid with which the container is later to be filled. This stepis known asthe blowing process which, according to the improved method disclosed in the first-mentioned co-pending application, can be performed without endangering or harming the longitudinal 50 joint.

The present invention contemplates also the sealing of the longitudinal joint'and the soldering of the end heads thereto, after which, the container is subjected to the blowing process. The present improvement consists in a particular manner of applying the solder to the longitudinal joint so as to seal the same in the most effective manner while at the same time preserve the joint region as well as the remaining bcdy portion of the cylindrical or other form of container in properly curved condition with respect to the pressure, as above referred to.

The object of the present invention therefore resides in the provision of a still further improved form of metal container especially with respect to the longitudinal joint, together with the method for making the same.

Fig. 1 illustrates an old form of longitudinal joint; Fig. 2 illustrates the present improved form of joint; Fig. 3 is a side view of the same; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus involved; Figs. 5 and 6 are taken on lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a detail.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is merely for purposes of illustration, and

ginal portions of the cylindrical body are over-- lapped and are clamped together by means of a suitable form of device indicated in a general way by the clamping strip 2 which extends along the joint-at a point near the extreme edge portion I of the outer' overlapping portion.

-But in this form, the solder will be applied to and-will reach only the outer edge portion of 'the joint region.' Consequently, such a joint is not secured and therefore not dependable, especially when subjected to substantial internal pressure. If, on the other hand, the clamp should be applied to the joint region at a point considerably back from the edge I, for the purpose of permitting the entrance of solder between the overlapping portions of the joint, then the edge portion of the outer part of the joint would not lie properly against the other part of the joint, and the resulting jointv would not be satisfactory for the purposes contemplated by the present invention.

According to the present invention, as illus trated in Fig. 2, and the following figures of the drawing, the means 4 for clamping the overlapping portions of the cylindrical body 5 in proper position for sealing the joint is applied to the very extreme edge portion of the outer overlapping part of the joint. The cylindrical 'circumferentially since the joint region as body 5 is extended about the expansible mandrel 6 and the overlapping portions of the joint are clamped into position indicated in the drawing, there being provided also the companion clamping strip 1 in the mandrel immediately beneath the clamping strip 4. These two clamping strips are formed of asbestos for the purpose of preventing the radiation and loss of the heat of the soldering iron and the loss thereof as would be the case with metal clamping strips. The mandrel is expanded by means of the wedge 8 which is operated by the hand-lever 9 pivoted at the point It) in the frame and connected at the point II to the wedge 8. The clamping strip 4 is carried by the arm I2 which is pivotally mounted at the point l3 in the upwardly extending stationary support l2 and is pivotally connected at M with the rod I5 which in turn is actuated by the foot lever I6.

It is to be understood thatthe parts of the metal body 5 when in proper position upon the mandrel will assume true cylindrical form throughout the region of the joint, and likewise throughout the-remaining portion of], the body 5 the curvature thereof will also correspond to that of a true cylinder.

As a means of applying the solder to the longitudinal joint, that is, between the overlapping portions which form the joint, I have provided the apertures I! which are arranged at suitable intervals in the outer overlapping portion of the joint and which overlie the inner marginal portion of the joint. With the metal body 5 in proper position upon the mandrel, as indicated in the present drawing, a ribbon of solder will be applied to the outside of the joint and over the apertures I! of the outer overlapping portion, according to the present disclosure, preparatory to the application of the heated iron which causes the solder to find its way through the apertures l1 and into the space between the overlying portions of the joint,-even to the very edge of the outer part of the joint,

' thereby indicating that the solder has reached all parts of the joint region. Thus, the solder is caused to tactingsurfaces of the overlying portions of the joint and to also fill the apertures l1 themselves. (See Fig. 7.) As a result, there is obtained a sealing .film of solder of uniform thickness throughout the entire joint region, and without disturbing the desired arrangement of the overlapping portions in the concentric and cylindrical form already referred to. of solder will extend to the very edges of the inner and outer parts of the overlapping marginal portions and there is thus established the strongest resistance possible to any weakening of the joint, as might otherwise result from the force of the internal pressure. With the present construction, such force will exert itself CD113;

as the remaining portion of the cylindrical body have already been given a curvature corresponding to that of the force of such internal pressure. Such resistance to the circumferential strain upon the joint is further strengthened by thesolder filling the apertures I1 which virtually constitutes a series of rivet-like connections between the inner and outer overlapping portions of the joint. The solder which extends from the inner joint portion into the apertures constitutes an effective means of resisting any circumferential force which might otherwise, prove objec tionable and damaging to the joint.

effect a seal between the entire con- Such sealing film This same principle of invention may be employed also in making a conical or tapering form of container in which the overlapping portions of the joint will at any given cross-section, be concentrically arranged, and have the-same degree of curvature as the main body of the container at the same point. The following claims are intended not to be limited to the cylindrical form of container but to cover the principle of invention as herein set forth.

Thus there has been devised a comparatively simple container structure which is calculated to withstand successfully the force of substantial internal pressure without any danger of weakening of the longitudinal joint. The present form of joint makes possible also the construction of such container without the necessity of repairing the joint after the blowing process and before the introduction of the gas-charged liquid.

Other'advantages resulting from the present improvements will readily suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the art to which this invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. A substantially cylindrical metal container adapted to withstand substantial internal pressure, said container having the marginal portions of its body portion overlapping each other, as concentrically arranged sectors of true cylinders throughout their entire extent, solder extending between said overlapping portions so as to secure the same together in a permanent joint, and one of said overlapped portions being provided with an opening through and into which the solder has been introduced, said opening being sufliciently spaced from the edge to permit clamping of the overlapping portion outside the opening.

2. The method of making a metal container adapted to withstand substantial internal pressure, consisting in first forming the metal body with a plurality of apertures in one marginal portion corresponding to the length of the container and spaced therealong and spaced sufficiently from the edge thereof to permit clamping the marginal portion outside the apertures, then forming the metal body into cylindrical shape with the marginal portions thereof overlapping and with the apertures overlying the other portion, clamping the overlying portion of the joint so as to be concentric with the under-- lying portion throughout the entire extent of the joint and then securing the overlapping portions together ,by applying solder through said apertures so as to flow between said overlapping portions and thereby form a permanent joint.

3. A metal container adapted to withstand substantial internal pressure, said container having the marginal portions of its body portion overlapping each .other as concentrically arranged sectors of true cylinders throughout their entire extent at any given point along the length of the container, solder extending between said overlapping portions so as to secure the same together in a permanent joint, and one of said overlapped portions being provided with an opening through and into which the solder has been introduced, said opening being suificiently spaced from the edge to permit clamping of the overlapping portion outside the opening.

JOHN F. WERDER. 

